Walking beam



June 23, 1942. s, coms oc JR 2,287,604

WALKING BEAM Filed May 29, 1940 I l 64 r i aa gzs l I 5; E18 l fi 3 g 4 62 6601 65? Ganesha/.

Patented June 23, 1942 UNETE STTES WALKING BEAM George S. Comstock, Jr., Bethlehem, Pa., assignor to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 29, 1940, Serial No. 337,805

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the structure of well operating mechanism but especially to a walking beam mechanism commonly called a horsehead.

In the extraction of oil from oil wells the usual structure of the wel1 comprises a reciprocating pump means contained within the tubing through which oil is raised from the bottom of the well. The pump means comprises a pump rod placed vertically in the well, terminating on its lower end in the operating head of the pump means and on its upper end in a special section of the rod called the polish rod. The polish rod extends through a packed stufiing box upon the upper exposed end of the well tubing in a manner well known in oil fields throughout the world. When properly operated the polish rod is reciprocated truly vertically in line with the axis of the tubing. The function of the horsehead is to provide a connecting means between the operating end of the walking beam and the outer end of the'polish rod whereby the oscillating movement of the walking beam is translated into vertically reciprocating movement of the polish rod end.

If the polish rod is not properly connected to the Walking beam it may itself be forced to have an oscillating movement in addition to its vertical reciprocation, and this by reason of its bending of the polish rod results in considerable damage in undue wear of the polish rod and of the stuffing box, and in crystallization of the rod. The crystallization of the rod may end in rupture and this results in expensive and serious accidents to oil well operation.

Although the need and desirability of true vertical reciprocation of the polish rod has long been recognized it has seldom been achieved due to the exigencies of manufacturing and operating conditions. In manufacture there is a demand for simplicity in design, ruggedness of structure, and low selling cost, and, in the effort to meet this demand, manufacturers have increased their use of standard rolled steel parts and have decreased the amount of accurate and costly machining, with the result that inaccuraciesof assembly occur. For instance the usually accepted walking beam of today is a standard rolled steel I-beam section which has inherent dimensional variations. To insure correct alignment of the various bearings required thereon ordinarily it would be necessary to accurately machine pads on the walking beam for the bearings, which in turn would be machined for seating thereon. Also, it sometimes happens that in installing a pumping unit for operation 55 at a well that difiiculties are encountered, due to terrain, in aligning the unit properly with the axis of the well, and it becomes necessary to provide adjustments to correct therefor,

The chief object of the present invention is to provide a connecting means between the walking beam of a well operating mechanism and the polish rod of the well that is adaptable to give true vertical reciprocation to the polish rod when in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a design of horsehead that is readily adapted to existing walking beams with a minimum of change thereto.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a design of horsehead that is highly adaptable to its stated purpose with a maximum of efficiency and a minimum of initial cost.

The novel features will be more fully understood from the following description and claim taken with the drawing, in which 7 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a well operating mechanism embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the horsehead shown in Figure 1 with its rear side plate removed;

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation partly in broken section of the horsehead shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the horsehead mounting bearing taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3; and r V Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the horsehead mounting bearing.

Referring now to Figure 1,- a well operating mechanism unit It comprises the base H having mounted thereon a power plant l2, a reduction gear transmission l3, and a Samson frame M. The reduction gear transmission [3 is driven by means of belts l5 from the power plant I2. The reduction gear transmission I3 drives the balanced crank I6 which transmits its 'rotary motion, through the medium of the pitman ll, into oscillatory motion of the walking beam [8 at the bearing 19 on its power end 20. The walking beam I8 is pivoted to the Samson frame 14 at the center bearing 2|, and has rigidly attached to its operating end 22 the horsehead 23.

The horsehead 23 has mounted thereon flexible connecting means 24 by which it is operably connected to the polish rod 25 through the medium of the T-head 26. A preferable arrangement is to have the T-head 26 suitably attached to the upper end of the polish rod 25 by Well known threaded means (not shown), and having the flexible connecting means 2 3 comprising a steel wire cable having suitable socket connections to the T-head 26 and looped over a clamp bracket 21 on the horsehead 23. The polish rod 25 reciprocates through a stuffing box 28 mounted on the outer end of the inner oil tubing 29 of the well 30.

In Figures 2 and 3 is shown in greater detail the preferred structure of the horsehead 23. The horsehead 23 is preferably manufactured from standard rolled steel plates suitably formed and welded together. As shown it comprises the side plates 3| and 32 (Figure 2 is shown with side plate 3| as though removed) and circumferential plates 33 and 34. The side plates 3| and 32 and circumferential plates 33 and 34 are united by and rigidly braced by the channel 35, brace plates 36, brace angle 31, clamp angle 38, and mounting shaft 39. The mounting shaft 3:! has its ends supported in suitable holes 58 in the side plates 3! and 32 and is securely welded at each end thereto. The end supports for the shaft 39 are further reenforced by means of plates 4| welded on the inner sides of the side plates 3| and 32. The clamp angle 38, side plates 3| and 32, and circumferential plates 33 and 34. are further braced and supported by the diaphragm plate 62 welded thereto. Bail 43 is welded at its ends to the side plates 3! and 32. Rope guides 44 and 45 are welded to the circumferential plates 33 and 34, respectively. The front edges 46 of the side plates 3| and 32 form true arcs of circles concentric with the center bearing 2| of the walking beam l8, and is of such radius (R in Figure 1) that when added to the thickness of a circumferential plate (33 or 34) plus one-half the diameter of the rope 24 it will be equal to the desired distance between the vertical center line through the bearing 2! and the vertical axis of the well 30.

Mounted on the walking beam It at its operating end 22 is the horsehead mounting bearing 41 comprised of the seat plate 48, saddle bearing 49, bolts 58, and nuts 52, and 53. The seat plate 48 is preferably a'steel casting, or drop forging, and is preferably welded in place on the beam 18, having a fiat surface 54 on its underside where it engages the beam l8, an annular edge 55, a spherical annular surface 56, and a flat top side 51. Although I preferably weld the seat plate 48 to the beam l8 when the beam is a steel section, the welding is not necessary as the bolts 56 when properly tightened will act to position the seat plate t8 upon the beam I8. In the case of a wooden beam I 8 welding of course would be impossible, and the bolts 50 would then be relied upon to position the seat plate 48 without other attaching means. The saddle bearing 49 is preferably a steel casting, or drop forging, having a spherical bottom surface 58, a fiat top surface 59, and saddle seats 69. The saddle seats 60 are preferably of V-type engagement at the ends for engagement with the shaft 39, with a clearance recess 6! between. Bolt holes '62, 63 and 64 are provided in the beam I 8, seat plate 48, and saddle bearing 49, respectively, for the stud bolts 50. The bolt holes 62, 83 and 64 are appreciably larger in diameter than the diameter of the bolts 59 in order that considerable relative positioning may be obtained between the seat plate 48 and the saddle bearing 59. It is desirable of course that the radii R of they spherical annular surface 56 and of the spherical bottom surface 58 be substantially equal for proper clamping effect. I prefer to make the curvatures of the surfaces 56 and 58 of such radius that the included angle X of the convex curve be less than In some cases I have found it desirable to have the direction of spherical curvature opposite to that which is shown on the drawing without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the herein appended claims. That is, the curvature of the spherical annular surface 56 could be concave instead of convex as shown, and the curvature of the spherical bottom surface 58 could be convex instead of concave as shown. Also I have found it possible for practical purposes to makethe concave member of conical rather than spherical surface without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. These modifications I have shown in Figure 5. It is part of my invention that these surfaces 56 and 53 may be left as cast, or drop forged, rather than machined, since, due to the universal adjustability thereof, the saddle seats Gil of the saddle bearing 49 may be accurately aligned transversely with the center bearing 2| of the walking beam I8 for parallelism, and may be accurately adjusted relative the longitudinal axis of the beam l8 for distance and concentricity of the radius R The horsehead 23 has rotational adjustment about the axis of the shaft 39, and about the center C of the surfaces 58 and 58 which admits of substantially translational longitudinal adjustment of the horsehead 23 with respect to the center C of the radius R The beam clamp angle 65 is preferably jigwelded to the beam H3 in course of manufacture. However, it can, of course, be removed, relocated, and bolted, or Welded, in the field when necessary for final adjustment. Slotted holes 66 and 67 in the clamp angles 38 and 65, respectively, for the bolt 68, provide adjustable means for fixing the horsehead 23 to the beam [8.

From the foregoing description it will be easily seen that I have a novel method of horsehead construction which is economical and particularly remedies defects which are inherent in prior methods of constructing horseheads. I do not wish it to be understood that my above described method is limited in its application to Well operating mechanisms such as are herein shown and described and it is manifest that my horsehead is useful in connection with other well known types of well operating mechanisms.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In well operating mechanism, a Samson frame, a walking beam bearing mounted on said frame, a walking beam mounted for oscillatory motion in said bearing, an adjustable bearing mounted at one end of said walking beam, the said adjustable bearing comprising a beam plate and a bearing block, the said beam plate being adapted for fixed engagement with the said walking beam end and having a spherically curved bearing surface, the said bearing block having a spherically curved bearing surface adapted for engagement with the spherically curved bearing surface of said beam 'plate and having a shaft bearing opening adapted to seat a shaft, an abutment on the said walking beam end, a horsehead comprising a mounting shaft adapted for engagement with said saddle bearing opening and aclamping bracket, means for adjustably fixing the said adjustable bearing upon the said walking beam end, and means for adjustably fixing the said clamping bracket to the said abutment.

2. In well operating mechanism, a Samson frame, a walking beam bearing mounted on said frame, a Walking beam mounted for oscillatory motion in said bearing, an adjustable bearing mounted at one end of said walking beam, the said adjustable bearing comprising a beam plate and a bearing block, the said beam plate being adapted for fixed engagement with the said walking beam end and having a spherically curved bearing surface, the said bearing block having a spherically curved bearing surface adapted for engagement with the spherically curved bearing surface of said beam plate and having a shaft bearing opening adapted to seat a shaft withits axis normally parallel with the axis of oscillatory motion of said walking beam bearing, an abutment on the said walking beam end, a horsehead comprising a mounting shaft adapted for engagement with said saddle bearing opening and a clamping bracket, means for adjustably fixing the said adjustable bearing upon the said walking beam end, and means for adjustably fixing the said clamping bracket to the said abutment.

3. In well operating mechanism, a Samson frame, a walking beam bearing mounted on said frame, a walking beam mounted for oscillatory motion in said bearing, a bearing plate adapted for engagement with one end of said walking beam and comprising an outwardly facing spherically curved bearing surface, a bearing block comprising a shaft bearing opening adapted to seat a shaft and a spherically curved bearing surface adapted for engagement with the spherically curved bearing surface of the said bearing plate, an abutment on the said Walking beam end, a horsehead comprising a mounting shaft adapted for engagement with said shaft bearing opening and a clamping bracket, means for adjustably fixing the said bearing plate and the said bearing block to each other and to the said walking beam end, and means for adjustably fixing the said clamping bracket to the said abutment.

4. In well operating mechanism, a Samson frame, a walking beam bearing mounted on said frame, a walking beam mounted for oscillatory motion in said bearing, a bearing plate adapted for engagement with one end of said walking beam and comprising an outwardly facing spherically curved bearing surface, a bearing block comprising a shaft bearing opening adapted to seat a shaft with its axis normally parallel with the axis of oscillatory motion of said walking beam bearing and a spherically curved bearing surface adapted for engagement with the spherically curved bearing surface of the said bear ing plate, an abutment on the said walking beam end, a horsehead comprising a mounting shaft frame, a walking beam bearing mounted on said frame, a walking beam mounted for oscillatory motion in said bearing, a bearing plate fixed to one end of said walking beam and comprising an outwardly facing spherically curved bearing surface, a bearing block comprising a shaft bearing opening adapted to seat a shaft and'a spherically curved bearing surface adapted for engagement with the spherically curved bearing surface of the said bearing plate, an abutment on the said walking beam end, a horsehead comprising a mounting shaft adapted for engagement with said shaftbearing opening and a clamping bracket, means for adjustably fixing the said bearing blocks to the said bearing plate, and means for adjustably fixing the said clamping bracket to the said abutment.

6. In well operating mechanism, a Samson frame, a walking beam bearing mounted on said frame, a walking beam mounted for oscillatory motion in said bearing, a bearing plate fixed to one end of saidwalking beam and comprising an outwardly facing spherically curved bearing surface, a bearing block comprising a shaft bearing opening adapted to seat a shaft with its axis normally parallel with the axis of oscillatory motion of said walking beam bearing and a spherically curved bearing surface adapted for engagement with the spherically curved bearing surface of the said bearing plate, an abutment on the said walking beam end, a horsehead comprising a mounting shaft adapted for engagement with said shaft bearing opening and a clamping bracket, means for adjustably fixing the said bearing blocks to the said bearingplate, and means for adjustably fixing the said clamping bracket to the said abutment.

7. In well operating mechanism, a Samson frame, a walking beam bearing mounted in said frame, a walking beam mounted for oscillatory motion in said bearing, a horsehead comprising a cylindrical cable supporting surface of predetermined radius whose center is normally upon the axis of said walking beam bearing and a mounting shaft normally parallel to said axis, a walking beam horsehead mounting bearing comprising means whereby the horsehead may be adjusted to align the parallelism of said axis with said shaft and radially to adjust the concentricity of said cylindrical supporting surface with the said axis, and securing means for locking said horsehead in its adjusted operative position on said walking beam.

8. In well operating mechanism, a Samson frame, a walking beam, bearing mounted in said frame, a Walking beam mounted for oscillatory motion in said bearing, a horsehead comprising a cylindrical cable supporitng surface of predetermined radius whose generating axis is normally upon the axis of said walking beam bearing, mounting means for securing the said horsehead operatively to one end of said walking beam comprising means whereby said axes may be relatively adjusted rotationally and radially for coincidence.

9. In well operating mechanism, a Samson frame, a walking beam bearing mounted in said frame, a walking beam mounted for oscillatory motion in said bearing, a horsehead comprising a cylindrical cable supporting surface of predetermined radius Whose generating axis is normally upon the axis of said walking beam bearing, mounting means for securing the said horsehead operatively to one end of said walking beam comprising means whereby said axes may be relatively universally adjusted for coincidence.

10. The combination with a walking beam, of a horsehead mounting support comprising a bearing plate, a mounting block, and screw bolt securing means, said bearing plate comprising a beam engaging surface, an outwardly facing spherically curved bearing surface, and clearance openings for said securing means, and said mounting block comprising a shaft bearing opening adapted to seat a shaft, a spherically curved bearing surface adapted for engagement with the spherically curved bearing surface of the said bearing plate, and clearance openings for said securing means.

11. The combination with a walking beam, of a horsehead mounting support comprising a bearing plate, a mounting block, and screw bolt securing means, said bearing plate comprising a. beam engaging surface, an outwardly facing conically curved bearing surface, and clearance openings for said securing means, and said mounting block comprising a shaft bearing opening adapted to seat a shaft, a spherically curved bearing surface adapted for engagement with the conically curved bearing surface of the said bearing plate, and clearance openings for said securing means.

GEORGE S. COMSTOCK, JR. 

